1 reply to this topic

[orac69]

Hi all, a little advice please.

 

Using Guessworks A+ rebuild kit, I have managed to strip and rebuild my '79 Mini rod change gearbox. (my first one as an enthusiastic amateur - and good fun by the way except the bstrd roll pins)

 

Its a DAM5626 case, and DID have a gasket under the cover - and what a total pita it was to remove.  Ive seen Spiders post about every box hed seen since the '80s NOT having a gasket - but mine does, so thought id check.

 

All the gears etc are in, and im up to fitting the diff back in.  Ive got to the bit where ive shimmed up the diff side covers ready to fit them, and was about to put the top cover on the crown wheel and torque it all up.

 

I thought I would double check everything as I really dont want leaks (measure twice cut once) - so I rewatched Guessworks video the final build, has a bit "to gasket or not gasket"..  He states that A+ later units do not have a diff crown wheen cover gasket, and then goes on to use black RTV on the top and bottom sections

 

Every other video I have watched eg MiniMania, ClassicMiniDiiy show people using a paper gasket for the crown wheel cover.

 

To confuse things, the A+ rebuild kit (which came with a box of gaskets) DOES have a top cover gasket (which should be in 2 parts) but 1 part is missing...

 

So what does everyone think - do I order the missing gasket (delivery here takes about a week), or do I just go for it and not use one?

 

Also previously my old man got me into using Hylomar Blue non-setting gasket compound instead of RTV, which so far has never let me down.  Thoughts on if I should use Hylomar Blue instead of RTV on all my gaskets on the Mini...?  Im thinking it will be good.

 

Thanks guys!

Edited by orac69, 11 April 2025 - 03:45 PM.

[Spider]

I've pulled down a few of the 5626 boxes that had gaskets, including some factory reconditioned units, and on checking them, they should not have.

 

Most of these being gasketless it appears is not widely known, it's not mentioned in any of the factory manuals for the Mini. I have only ever found that info in the factory Metro manuals.

 

All the Gasket Sets I buy come with these gaskets as they seem to be a 'Universal' set that either cover all gearbox types or all Rod Shift types.

I don't know what other's knowledge is, but I'd guess because this seems to be not widely known, it's not in the Mini Workshop Manuals and that the sets include these gaskets is why the likes of MiniMania fit them and this is why I caution against watching so many of the Youtube clips, frankly, I've seen lots of butchers on so many. Very very few of the 5626 Cases used gaskets for the cap, off hand, I can only ever recall coming across 1 that did.

 

If the gearbox has been apart since leaving the factory, the only way you can be sure if it's a gasketed or gasketless type is to assemble the cap on with gaskets and without the Differential, torque down the cap, then measure the bearing tunnels so see if they are round.